Coffee package

ABSTRACT

A food package comprised of a container and closure combination and coffee packaged therein. The container and closure combination of the package comprising metal container having an open top and a sealed bottom panel; the open top of the container is defined by a peripheral flattened bead constructed to receive a closure which is comprised of an innerseal membrane adhesively affixed to the peripheral bead and detachably bonded to a reinforcing backing to form a liner overlayed by a protective plastic snap-on cap which snugly grips the bead and is capable of acting as a reclosure after the innerseal is ruptured or removed.

United States Patent 91 Enzie et al.

COFFEE PACKAGE Conn.

[73] Assignee: General Foods Corporation, White Plains, NY.

Filed: Oct. 4, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 186,464

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser, No. 28,330, April14, 1970.

[52] U.S. Cl. 426/131 [51] Int. Cl B65b 31/02 B65d 43/10 [581 Field ofSearch 220/60 R'; 215/40, 41;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,903,362 4/1933 McKinnis99/65 2,842,167 7/1958 Tupper.... 2,860,814 11/1958 Duemler 3,088,8305/1963 Graham 99/171 C 3,163,311 12/1964 Stock 215/40 X 3,237,800 3/1966Edwards 220/60 R 3,295,707 1/1967 3,323,672 6/1967 Acton 215/40 X 1 1June 28, 1974 3,329,295 7/1967 Fields 215/40 3,330,720 7/1967 Stevens eta1 215/40 X 3,333,728 8/1967 Burdick, Jr. 220/60 R 3,421,906 1/1969Reich ct a1 99/152 3,451,586 6/1969 Maliszewski et al. 220/60 R X3,480,177 11/1969 Elliot 220/60 X 3,501,042 3/1970 Risch ct a1 215/40FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 317,397 1/1957 Switzerland 220/60 RPrimary Examinew-Frank W. Lutter Assistant Examiner--Steven L. WeinsteinAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Howard .1. Newby; Bruno P. Struzzi; Daniel .1.Donovan 5 7 ABSTRACT A food package comprised of a container and closurecombination and coffee packaged therein. The container and closurecombination of the package comprising metal container having an open topand a sealed bottom panel; the open top of the container is defined by aperipheral flattened bead constructed to receive a closure which iscomprised of an innerseal membrane adhesively affixed to the peripheralbead and detachably bonded to a reinforcing backing to form a lineroverlayed by a protective plastic snap-on cap which snugly grips thebead and is capable of acting as a reclosure after the innerseal isruptured or removed.

12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 COFFEE PACKAGE This is a division ofapplication Ser. No. 28,330 filed Apr. 14, 1970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates, in general, to closures for containers and, in particular, isdirected to an easy-opening plastic-type closure assembly for sealing acan-type container and adapted to serve as a reclosure.

2. Description of the Prior Art For the most part, metal containers ofthe prior art, and especially metal containers of thetin can" type aresealed at both top and bottom ends with metal panels. The metal endpanels are usually secured to the wall of the container by a combinationof crimping and soldering operations. The great majority of containersof this type, especially those containers designed for hermeticallypackaging foodstuffs for household use, are opened by cutting away oneend panel or by tearing away a portion of the metal of the containeralong prescored lines.

Within recent years, it has been the practiceto include with many of themetal containers a plastic overcap which fits snugly over the end of thecontainer and, being removable and replaceable, is used as a reclosuredevice after one metal end panel of the container has been removed anddiscarded.

Although all-metal containers have pronounced ad vantages, such asexcellent structural strength, the capability of hermetically sealingthe packaged contents, and the capability of withstanding retortingprocessing conditions, such containers are relatively expensive tomanufacture compared to the cost of manufacturing paper-type containers.Another drawback of the allmetal can is manifest in the difficulty ofopening the sealed metal end a chore which at times, cannot only betroublesome, but also dangerous.

In view of the large number of all-metal containers employed to packagefoods and other materials, an incremental cost reduction inmanufacturingthe container would result in an overall large monetary savings. Also,since many materials which do not need all of the protection afforded byall-metal containers are, nevertheless, packaged in containers of thistype, there has existed an additional incentive to develop a containersufficiently adequate to effectively protect these materials at alowercost; that is, a container having many of the attributes of an all-metalcontainer plus the distinct advantage of being more easily opened foraccess to the contents and, importantly, less costly to manufacture.

The recent achievement of manufacturing a degassed roasted and groundcoffee as disclosed in-U.S. Ser. No.

878,230, assigned to the same assignee as the present application,wherein the coffee does not release excessive amounts of gas afterpackaging has added further impetus to the development of a moreeconomical metal container with an easy open reclosable closure and withonly those features of an all-metal can which are essential foradequately protecting its contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated, the present inventioncomprehends a metal container, one end of which is closed and sealedwith a conventional metal end panel, and the opposite end (top) closedand sealed with a closure comprising a paper-type innerseal membraneprotected with a pulpboard-type liner and a plastic reclosure cap.

The container of this invention is more economical to manufacture thanone having both ends closed and sealed with conventional metal endpanels, and is intended to satisfy the packaging requirements for alarge variety of foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and like materials.

The container of this invention has surmounted a major difficultyusually associated with the use of flexible membrane seal structures.Surprisingly, it has been found that the container of the invention doesnot dent in the flexible membrane seal area when subjected to a sharpblow. Instead, the plastic overcap acts as a cushion to prevent dentingand leakage of the seal. Also, the sealing membrane, being a flexiblematerial, can distort and maintain its seal if the top of the containeris subjected to abusive forces on its side which cause the can to takeon an out-of-round shape.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a containerand closure for same which can be employed for packaging comestibles,such as soluble coffee powder and degassed roasted coffee wherein thefood is packaged in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide, nitrogen or otherinert gas.

It is another object of this invention to provide a metalcontainer-closure combination which offers the distinct consumeradvantage of being easy to open.

- It isanother object of this invention to provide a metal containerwith an improved tamper-proof clo sure feature.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a container whichhas superior structural strength with respect to wall collapse ordeformation proximate the open end of the container.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a containerhaving a plastic overcap in which the outer diameter of the plasticovercap covering the top of the container is the same as the outerdiameter of the bottom end of the container. Thus, side-by-side canstouch at top and bottom simultaneously so that the top seal area isprotected from excessive distribution abuse by the-can-to-can contact of.bottom-to-bottom. Additionally, with both top and bottom diameters ofthe con-- tainer assembly, including the plastic overcap, being thesame, the can structure provides for smaller'size cases, easier casingof cans and a better shipping unit than that provided with theconventional metal cans when both metal ends have the same diameter, andthe addition of the snap on plastic overcap makes the top end larger indiameter than the bottom end.

The objects of the invention are accomplished with a metal containerwhereof the annular wall has a radially outward projecting bead and thewall, above the head, is necked inwardly and terminates at the open endin a flattened rolled bead constructed to adhesively receive aninnerseal. The innerseal is weakly bonded to a reinforcing backing. Thelaminate of innerseal and reinforcing backing form a substantiallyimpermeable closure liner for a plastic snap-on overcap which snuglygrips the outer peripheral surface of the bead of the container.

The essence of the invention resides in the unique configuration of thebead surmounting the annular wall at the open end of the can. Therolledflattened bead serves to present a sufficient amount of flat surfacecontact area for adequately securing the innerseal thereto with anadhesive sealant.

The flat bead also reinforces the annular wall of the metal container atthe proximity of the closure end against distortion from radiallydirected forces and compensates for the loss of any such support createdby the substitution of the conventional metal end panel with theresilient closure of the invention. Also, by forming the flat bead withits rolled edge surface projecting radially outward from the indentedwall of the container, the bead acts as an excellent gripping surfacefor the snugly fitting radially depending skirt of the plastic overcapand, additionally, serves to insure a clearance between the skirt of theovercap and the wall of the container, thereby facilitating fingergripping of the skirt for removal of the overcap from the container.

The foregoing and additional objects and features of this invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following detailed description ofthe construction of the open-top can and the plastic closure when takeninto consideration with the figures of the drawing wherein likereference characters are employed to designate like part in theapplication and throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational view of acontainer and closure of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of FIG. 1taken through an end portion of the can body illustrating the closure asapplied to the flattened rolled bead of the can.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 showing an optional, furthertamper-proof version of the closure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing indetail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in FIG. I a containerbody (l), constructed with a welded seam (II) and having a conventionalbottom metal end panel (13). The top of the container is provided withthe closure assembly of the invention shown generally as numeral (12).The wall (23) of the container body is formed so as to have a radiallyoutward projecting bead (28A) to which, in one preferred embodiment ofthe invention, a portion of the closure assembly (12) is in compressiblecontact as will be described hereinafter.

As shown in greater detail in FIG. 2, the closure (12) is comprised of amembrane innerseal (14) which is laminated to a reinforcing backing (16)to form a liner (40) for the plastic overcap (18). The laminate ofinnerseal and reinforcing backing is supported in place in the plasticovercap by means of the recess (24) and the beveled circumferentialshoulder (20) formed in the upper portion of the skirt (22) whichsurrounds and depends from the panel portion (8) of the plastic overcap(l8). 1

The innerseal is laminated to the reinforcing backing by any ofwell-known methods, such as that disclosed in Pellett US. Pat. No.2,646,183. As in standard practice, the innerseal (I4) is detachablylaminated to the reinforcing backing (16) with a weak bond which willpermit the backing to break away from the innerseal incident to removalof the closure from the container.

In practice, the laminated liner ($0) is pressed into the overcap (18)past the shoulder and into the internal peripheral recess (24) of theskirt 22) of the resilient plastic overcap (18) and is held in place bythe contraction of the skirt and the upper shoulder (20) formed therein.The laminated liner and overcap are, therefore, preassembled and appliedto the can as a single unit in one closure operation. When the plasticovercap is removed from the container, the projecting shoulder (20)abuts the backing (I6) and the backing is, therefore, removed with theovercap.

The upper wall end (28) of the container (10) is indented above theradially outward projecting bead (28A) and further indented (26) asshown in FIG. 2, and rolled into a flattened bead shown generally asnumeral (30). The bead (30) has a substantially flat surface portion orflange (30A) which extends radially outward of the wall (28) of thecontainer and is disposed normal to the axis of the can body. Continuousfrom the outer periphery of the flange (30A), the bead is rolled to forma depending arcuate or bight portion (308) and terminates with the edge(30C) of the metal disposed beneath the flange (30A) of the head.

The lower face of the innerseal (I4), is received by the flat portion orflange (30A) of the bead (30) when the closure is applied to the openend of the can (10). Prior to applying the closure assembly, the flatportion of the bead is coated with an adhesive sealing and, as theclosure assembly is pressed onto the bead, it is rotated slightly toimpart uniform distribution of the sealant and insure maintenance of theinner seal during and after removal of the plastic overcap and thereinforcing backing. The extensive surface area presented by the uniqueflat configuration of the bead (30) of the invention to the innersealestablishes sufficient contact area to insure an excellent bond betweeninnerseal and bead; a bond which is stronger than the bond between theinnerseal and the reinforcing backing. Therefore, when removing theclosure assembly, the reinforcing backing, which is retained in theplastic overcap is pulled away from the innerseal. The intact innersealremains adhered to the bead of the container and may then be ruptured orremoved when it is desired to gain access to the contents of thecontainer.

Once again referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the arcuate portion(308) of the bead (30) depending from the outer periphery of the flange(30A) of the bead is surrounded by the skirt (22) of the overcap. Theskirt is formed with a second, lower shoulder (32) which underlies theportion of the bead inwardly directed beneath the flange. Thus thefrictional grip between the inner wall of the depending skirt (22),including the shoulder (32) formed therein, and the bead surface (308)extending from the flange of the bead retains the overcap in placeacross the top of the container.

The arcuate or curl portion (308) of the bead (30) has a diameter equalin length to the height of the recess (24) in the skirt of the plasticovercap. This construction provides the invention with a feature whichpermits the reinforcing backing (16) to be removed from the plasticovercap (l2), and the plastic overcap will reclose on the container in atight seal with the bead (30) held in the recess (24) of the overcap,thus providing a plastic overcap that recloses on the container bothwith and without the backing.

Further-to the bead construction of the invention, the flat portion orflange (30A) radially projects outward of the wall (28) of the containerto provide a clearance between the lower portion of the overcapdepending skirt (22A) and the container wall (28). The clearance soprovided facilitates finger gripping the skirt to remove the plasticovercap (and the reinforcing backing) from the container.

Once the plastic cap is removed, the innerseal is easily ruptured andpeeled from the bead for access to the contents and reclosure iseffected by snapping the plastic overcap over the bead.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate modification of the plastic overcapconstruction of the invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the depending skirtof the overcap is extended to form a thin section (228) which is intight compressible contact with the radially outward projecting bead(28A) circling the wall (28) of the container, snugly gripping saidwall. The thin extension of the skirt must be torn away in order toprovide sufficient space below the remaining skirt in order to removeand grasp the overcap. The skirt extension (223) renders the closureassembly further tamper-proof by requiring the user to tear away avisually exposed portion of the closure in the process of removing theovercap from the container.

in practicing the invention, a variety of sheet materials are used forthe. innerseal membrane depending principally on the degree ofimpermeability required. Plastic, glassine, and foil laminate innersealshave been employed with the foil laminated innerseal providing the bestdegree of moisture and gas impermeability.

The reinforcing backing, which together with the innerseal membraneforms the liner for the plastic overcap, can be constructed ofpulpboard, newsboard, or plastic having a thickness ranging from about0.035 inch to about 0.050 inch. The important criterion with respect tothe backing is that it need be sufficiently resilient and compressibleonly to the extent to effect proper cushioning when the closure isapplied to the container bead flat surface. The reinforcing backingshould have sufficient stiffness to remain held within the recess of theplastic overcap when the overcap is removed from the container.

The primary purpose of the reinforcing backing is to serve as aconvenient means to assemble the liner material (paperthin innermembrane seal adhered to backing) onto the plastic overcap and waxedpulpboard is usually employed because of its low cost and ease ofadhering a removal inner seal and insertion into the overcap with highspeed assembly equipment.

The plastic overcap (also referred to as a snap-on lid) can be made frominjection-moulded or sheet-formed high impact strength polystyrene orlow density polyolefins.

In the manufacture of the plastic overcap, it is customary to mold theovercaps and to cull-out those which are warped. Warped overcaps can beproduced by any one or a combination of many process variables in theirnormal manufacture. Warped overcapsare usually produced when thehorizontal wall thickness becomes too thin in relation to the verticalwall (skirt) thickness. Surprisingly, it has been found that such warpedliners can be used on the container of the invention providing theinnerseal and reinforcing backing are assembled immediately aftermolding, in which case the liner and backing take the warp out of the iuse of less plastic raw material, and improves the clarity for viewing asales message printed on the top of the backing and for viewing thecontents of the container after the backing is removed from the plasticovercap.

The innerseal is wax laminated to the reinforcing backing and is eithercoated with a pressure-activated sealant for adherence to the flatflange of the container bead or can be sealed with glue, hot melt, latexor induction sealing methods.

Thus, the number of combinations of innersealing, backing, overcap, andadhesive materials which can be used in the closure constructions ofthis invention are numerous.

Although the reinforcing backing can accommodate minor irregularities inthe flat surface flange of the container bead when the closure assemblyis pressed onto the container, and thus assure a continuous sealing, ithas been found preferable to weld the seam of the container body wall.

Since the top end (open end) of the container is indented for about theupper /2 inch and the bead is rolled to form a flat surface or flangehaving a width ranging from about 0.04 inch to about 0.08 inch, weldingof the metal container body seam is required, in most instances, toprevent a major irregularity such as a bump on the flat surface of thebead and to permit indenting the top end of the container withoutfracturing the seam.

The container closure combination of this invention lends itself to thepackaging of many foods, drugs, and like materials for householdconsumption, including soluble coffee and recently developed degassedroasted and ground coffee. The commercial packaging of high qualitysoluble and .degassed roasted and ground coffee entails packaging thecoffee in an inert gas atmosphere usually nitrogen or carbon dioxide.The inert gas at approximately atmospheric pressure, acts to block orotherwise prevent air from outside the container pentrating thesubstantially impermeable innerseal membrane, to come into contact withthe packaged coffee being protected until the closure has been openedand the innerseal membrane ruptured.

in summary, the point of novelty of the invention resides in the uniquecharacteristic of the flange particularly adapted to receive asubstantially impermeable membrane together with protective closureelements and, as a result, effects an economical container especiallysuitable for the packaging of soluble coffee and degassed roasted andground coffee wherein their high qyality aroma and flavor are protectedby an inert gas atmosphere.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is nowcontemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, thepreferred embodiments are, of course, subject to modifications.Variations in container shapes providing square or rectangular shapedopen ends and closures could be employed without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is not desired torestrict the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated anddescribed,

but to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by letters patent is:

l. A food package comprising in combination a container, a containerclosure device and coffee packaged therein a. said container comprising,

1. A metal annular body wall,

2. a metal bottom end panel connected integrally with the body wall,

3. a radially outward projecting first bead formed in the body wallproximate the end of the wall distal the bottom end panel,

4. an inwardly projecting section of body wall above the first bead, and

5. a second bead member defining an opening in the container, saidsecond bead member having an inwardly indented arcuate portion, a flatflange surface normal to the body wall and projecting radially outwardtherefrom, and an arcuate portion depending from the outer periphery ofthe flange surface and terminating inwardly beneath the flange surface;

b. said closure device comprising,

1. a membrane-type inner seal, the lower surface of said inner sealadhered along its periphery to the flat surface portion of the secondbead member and the upper surface of the inner seal adhered 2. areinforcing backing member, and

3. a flexible plastic overcap constructed to provide a snapping-type capfor the container, said overcap having a panel portion and a peripheraldepending skirt surrounding the panel portion, said peripheral dependingskirt terminating in a shoulder portion which underlies the portion ofthe second bead member inwardly directed beneath the flange surfacethereof and said skirt having an internal peripheral recess proximatethe panel within which said inner seal and backing member are press-fitsecured, said recess being equal in height and diameter to the arcuateportion of said second bead member,

wherein the second bead member projects radially from the upper sectionof the body wall a distance sufficient to 1. provide clearance betweenthe plastic overcap skirt and the container wall when the plasticovercap is received by the bead member as by snapping the plasticovercap over the bead member, the clearance being of sufficientmagnitude to facilitatefinger-gripping. the skirt to remove the flexibleplastic overcap and reinforcing backing member from the container andconcomitantly 2. cause the received plastic overcap to extend radially adistance substantially equal to the radial dimension of the bottomclosed end of the con tainer, and

3. with the inner seal and reinforcing backing members removed from theplastic overcap, to receive the plastic overcap by pressed-fitting inthe recess in the peripheral skirt, thereby providing a combination inwhich the plastic overcap securely recloses the container both with andwithout the reinforcing backing member and adhered membrane-type innerseal.

2. The food package of claim 1 further characterized in that theperipheral skirt of the plastic overcap is formed with an extendedsection which snugly grips the container wall after the plastic overcaphas been re ceived by the bead, thereby preventing removal of theplastic overcap from the container until the extended section of theskirt is torn away from the container.

3. The food package of claim 1 further characterized in that the coffeeis packaged within an inert atmosphere Within the container.

4. The food package of claim 1 further characterized in that the coffeeis soluble coffee.

5. The food package of claim 1 further characterized in that themembrane-type inner seal material of construction is selected from thegroup consisting of glassine, plastic, and foil laminate.

6. The food package of claim 1 further characterized in that thereinforcing backing member material of construction is selected from thegroup consisting of pulpboard, newsboard and plastic.

7. The food package of claim 1 further characterized in that the plasticovercap material of construction is a thermal plastic resin.

8. The food package of claim 1 further characterized in that the plasticovercap material of construction is a thermal plastic polyoleflne.

9. The food package of claim 1 further characterized in that themembrane-type inner seal is glued to the second bead member.

10. The food package of claim 1 further characterized in that themembrane-type inner seal is heat sealed to the second bead member.

11. The food package of claim 1 further characterized in that themembrane-type inner seal is of the pressure activated adhesive type.

12. The food package of claim 1 further characterized in that theplastic overcap material of construction is polystyrene.

=l l =l

1. A food package comprising in combination a container, a containerclosure device and coffee packaged therein a. said containercomprising,
 1. A metal annular body wall,
 2. a metal bottom end panelconnected integrally with the body wall,
 3. a radially outwardprojecting first bead formed in the body wall proximate the end of thewall distal the bottom end panel,
 4. an inwardly projecting section ofbody wall above the first bead, and
 5. a second bead member defining anopening in the container, said second bead member having an inwardlyindented arcuate portion, a flat flange surface normal to the body walland projecting radially outward therefrom, and an arcuate portiondepending from the outer periphery of the flange surface and terminatinginwardly beneath the flange surface; b. said closure devicecomprising,
 1. a membrane-type inner seal, the lower surface of saidinner seal adhered along its periphery to the flat surface portion ofthe second bead member and the upper surface of the inner seal adheredto
 2. a reinforcing backing member, and
 3. a flexible plastic overcapconstructed to provide a snapping-type cap for the container, saidovercap having a panel portion and a peripheral depending skirtsurrounding the panel portion, said peripheral depending skirtterminating in a shoulder portion which underlies the portion of thesecond bead member inwardly directed beneath the flange surface thereofand said skirt having an internal peripheral recess proximate the panelwithin which said inner seal and backing member are press-fit secured,said recess being equal in height and diameter to the arcuate portion ofsaid second bead member, wherein the second bead member projectsradially from the upper section of the body wall a distance sufficientto
 1. provide clearanCe between the plastic overcap skirt and thecontainer wall when the plastic overcap is received by the bead memberas by snapping the plastic overcap over the bead member, the clearancebeing of sufficient magnitude to facilitate finger-gripping the skirt toremove the flexible plastic overcap and reinforcing backing member fromthe container and concomitantly
 2. cause the received plastic overcap toextend radially a distance substantially equal to the radial dimensionof the bottom closed end of the container, and
 3. with the inner sealand reinforcing backing members removed from the plastic overcap, toreceive the plastic overcap by pressed-fitting in the recess in theperipheral skirt, thereby providing a combination in which the plasticovercap securely recloses the container both with and without thereinforcing backing member and adhered membrane-type inner seal.
 2. ametal bottom end panel connected integrally with the body wall,
 2. areinforcing backing member, and
 2. cause the received plastic overcap toextend radially a distance substantially equal to the radial dimensionof the bottom closed end of the container, and
 2. The food package ofclaim 1 further characterized in that the peripheral skirt of theplastic overcap is formed with an extended section which snugly gripsthe container wall after the plastic overcap has been received by thebead, thereby preventing removal of the plastic overcap from thecontainer until the extended section of the skirt is torn away from thecontainer.
 3. The food package of claim 1 further characterized in thatthe coffee is packaged within an inert atmosphere within the container.3. a flexible plastic overcap constructed to provide a snapping-type capfor the container, said overcap having a panel portion and a peripheraldepending skirt surrounding the panel portion, said peripheral dependingskirt terminating in a shoulder portion which underlies the portion ofthe second bead member inwardly directed beneath the flange surfacethereof and said skirt having an internal peripheral recess proximatethe panel within which said inner seal and backing member are press-fitsecured, said recess being equal in height and diameter to the arcuateportion of said second bead member, wherein the second bead memberprojects radially from the upper section of the body wall a distancesufficient to
 3. with the inner seal and reinforcing backing membersremoved from the plastic overcap, to receive the plastic overcap bypressed-fitting in the recess in the peripheral skirt, thereby providinga combination in which the plastic overcap securely recloses thecontainer both with and without the reinforcing backing member andadhered membrane-type inner seal.
 3. a radially outward projecting firstbead formed in the body wall proximate the end of the wall distal thebottom end panel,
 4. an inwardly projecting section of body wall abovethe first bead, and
 4. The food package of claim 1 further characterizedin that the coffee is soluble coffee.
 5. The food package of claim 1further characterized in that the membrane-type inner seal material ofconstruction is selected from the group consisting of glassine, plastic,and foil laminate.
 5. a second bead member defining an opening in thecontainer, said second bead member having an inwardly indented arcuateportion, a flat flange surface normal to the body wall and projectingradially outward therefrom, and an arcuate portion depending from theouter periphery of the flange surface and terminating inwardly beneaththe flange surface; b. said closure device comprising,
 6. The foodpackage of claim 1 further characterized in that the reinforcing backingmember material of construction is selected from the group consisting ofpulpboard, newsboard and plastic.
 7. The food package of claim 1 furthercharacterized in that the plastic overcap material of construction is athermal plastic resin.
 8. The food package of claim 1 furthercharacterized in that the plastic overcap material of construction is athermal plastic polyolefine.
 9. The food package of claim 1 furthercharacterized in that the membrane-type inner seal is glued to thesecond bead member.
 10. The food package of claim 1 furthercharacterized in that the membrane-type inner seal is heat sealed to thesecond bead member.
 11. The food package of claim 1 furthercharacterized in that the membrane-type inner seal is of the pressureactivated adhesive type.
 12. The food package of claim 1 furthercharacterized in that the plastic overcap material of construction ispolystyrene.